FDCI confident of sucesss despite controversies

New Delhi, Apr 4 (UNI) Notwithstanding the controversies over the ''wardrobe malfunctions'' at the recently-concluded Lakme India Fashion Week in Mumbai, final touches were being given to preparations for the five-day Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week (WLIFW), which gets underway here tomorrow.

Director General, Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI), the apex body of Indian fashion designers, Rathi Vinay Jha, said, ''We are confident that it's going to be a grand event as preparatory measures are going on for quite a long time and above all we are used to organising it.'' Last year, Lakme was the main sponsor of the fashion week which was held in the capital. This time, FDCI has roped in Wills for the main event.

An FDCI source on condition of anonymity said '' We had three years contract with Lakme and it is over now.'' Asked about controversies over ''wardrobe malfunctions'' in the Lakme Fashion Week in Mumbai, he said models were upset not only because of the embarrassing moments which they experienced on the ramp but also with the arrangements.

''It was more like a bollywood ramp show with actors walking the ramp. Main models were sidelined as celebrities took the lead in the event.'' LIFW was mired in controversies after a model's bustier fell down while she was displaying Bennu Sehgal's creations and another model experienced a similar embarrassing moment when the zipper of her skirt came off.

UNI HS AT KP1750